An intensive ground and air search by Sooke RCMP and Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue has yet to locate missing Melissa McDevitt, 38, after she failed to board a scheduled flight from Vancouver Friday to visit family in North Carolina. McDevitt, 38, is from the United States but lives in Sooke. An avid hiker, he is often found at Sooke Potholes and nearby peaks and trails. McDevitt’s parents in North Carolina last spoke to her Thursday night. He planned to travel by ferry to Vancouver from Victoria and board a flight to the United States the next day, but never arrived. This is highly unusual for McDevitt. Her family and police have significant concerns for her welfare, Victoria Police spokesman Bowen Osoko said on Sunday. Her family is expected to travel here, she said. McDevitt drives a gray 2015 Subaru Forester with North Carolina plates. After being alerted to her disappearance, police found her vehicle Saturday in a popular hiker parking lot in the Sooke Potholes. There are mild and moderate trails in the Sooke Potholes, but if a hiker gets lost off-trail, the terrain can become difficult. Cold temperatures and rainfall and the breadth of the steep, forested and remote terrain have made the search difficult, Osoko said. Victoria police have been tasked with working with Canadian and US agencies to determine whether McDevitt entered the US by plane or by other means of transport. They are looking for people who may have seen McDevitt since Thursday. McDevitt is neuro-deviant and may initially appear to show signs of cognitive delay. She is described as Caucasian and petite, five feet tall, slim and weighing 105 pounds. She has alopecia but may wear a wig or have short, rainbow-dyed hair. Anyone who may have seen McDevitt or her vehicle since Thursday is asked to call police at 250-995-7654 extension 1. Police are asking anyone who finds McDevitt to stay with her and call 911. [email protected]
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